Breaking - US intelligence is reporting

[Lurker Deluxe]

38. Out of morbid curiosity

Sir.

Merriam Webster:

1a:a man entitled to be addressed as sir —used as a title before the given name of a knight or baronet and formerly sometimes before the given name of a priest
b:a man of rank or position

2a:used as a usually respectful form of address
b:capitalized —used as a conventional form of address in the salutation of a letter

In this context 2,b the word "Sir" (capitalized) is simply a form of addressing someone in the salutation of a dialogue, with respect given and no gender assumed.

So ... what word should be used to address someone, such as yourself, in this context? I can think of one ... but I would be willing to bet it is not the same as yours.